Improvement in medicated soaps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TAYLOR, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MEDICATED SOAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 203,090, dated April 30, 1878 application filed January 23, 1877.

, infectaut, antiseptic, or deodorizing, or

such as are designated by other terms to mark similar peculiar properties; and it consists of a composition formed of the ordinary constitucuts of soaps, together with the essential oil obtained from trees of the genus Eucalyptus, but more particularly the oil of Eucalyptus globulus.

Hitherto attempts have been made to satisfy the demands for soaps and similar easily-used substances which should have the properties mentioned above and with this end in view tar, turpentine, carbolic acid, &c., have been used in substances, in order, in this way, to utilize their valuable properties. Thus far, however, carbolic acid has proved to be the only efficient agent the action of which fulfills the requisite conditions of an antiseptic. The disagreeable and, to many persons, nauseating odor of this substance, as well as its poisonous physiological action when incantiously used, offer serious objections to its use. Its effects, moreover, generally speaking, are limited to its antiseptic action. The substitution, therefore, in place of this chemical of a natural substance equally or more effective in its action, and which is free from these objectionable properties, constitutes my invention.

The medicinal virtues of Eucalyptus globulus and of its oil have for some time attracted the attention of scientific men, and are now matters of popular comment. Aside from its me dicinal properties, however, I find, by a series of experiments, that the oil is a powerful antiseptic, disinfectant, and deodorizer, acting in this respect with a power equal to or greater than that of carbolic acid, while the offensive odor and poisonous corrosive action of the lat- .ter are replaced by a pleasant aromatic smell and freedom from dan ger in its use. When combined with soap it imparts its peculiar properties to the latter, and affords a pleasantlyfragrant antiseptic and disinfecting material, which may be used as a detergent, as a toilet article, as a medicinal soap for sores, wounds, &c., or may be placed in museums or similar places, where substances liable to putrefaction are exposed, where it will act as efficaciously as a similar carbolic-acid preparation.

In carrying out my invention for toilet purposes, I add the Eucalyptus oil in very small quantitiessay, one-half pound of oil to one hundred pounds of soap, (more or less,) which vary according to the strength of the odor desired, or to the caustic alkalies-and then add the usual complement of grease or oil, and proceed toconvert the mass, by any of the usual methods, into soap. Or I take any of the soaps of commerce, heat to a temperature sufficient to render the mass fluid, or nearly so, and, before it is thoroughly congealed, I add the Eucalyptus oil in such quantity (always very small) as I deem necessary, and afterward run the soap thus treated into suitable molds.

When the soap is designed for medicinal purposes, a larger proportion of the oil would be required than if it were destined to be used for toilet purposes only.

The soap, besides being a ready vehicle for the oil, renders its odor less pungent and prevents its too speedy evaporation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

An antiseptic disinfecting soap composed of the ordinary constituents of soap, combined with a small proportion of Eucalyptus oil, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

Witnesses E. T. PETERS, A..R. TAYLOR. 

